the president doesn't have the guts to go further on the deficit and the debt and the fiscal stuff. in fact, you're not going to hear a ton, i don't believe, about that tonight because, in fact, we have actually reduced the deficit over the next ten years by $2.5 trillion. much of that work is behind it. there's another $1.5 trillion needed stabilize the debt. once your hair stops being on fire on fiscal policy, on cut, slash, and burn. >> where is the party left? >> exactly. for republicans it's about cut, slash, and burn, although never specify what. that's the other part of the strategy. once that's off the table, the president can have a more actionary agenda, speaking to the kinds of things the people in this economy really care about. jobs, for example. >> i think it's just the operating strategy here is smoke and mirrors. it is let us get on the record. , with our sort of dismay. let us get on the record saying we are in opposition to this, but let us not have to propose anything measurable in terms of moving the country forward ledges laishly or many terms of policy. >> we g